Cindy Sanford sifts through the debris while retrieving personal items after a tornado destroyed her home in Beauregard, Ala., Tuesday, March 5, 2019.

March is widely considered the beginning of tornado season for many states, but in Alabama the threat is possible anytime of the year.

After the tornado Sunday that left 23 Beauregard residents dead, Cullman County Emergency Management Agency Director Phyllis Little said every individual, family and business should have a safety plan in place.

“We don’t have a month out of the year in which a tornado is not a threat. We’ve seen tornadoes, or the threat, in every month,” Little said. “My gut feeling is we’re starting early this year, but that’s just a feeling. We will learn more soon.”

Little reminds that the tornado outbreak of April 27, 2011, is a good example of Cullman County residents taking the warnings seriously. Three tornadoes came through the area, beginning early in the morning and finishing up late at night. During that time, the outdoor warning system, which is battery powered, became exhausted, which is another issue to consider.

“The outdoor warning system is simply that. It shouldn’t be the only information you rely on. I’m still an advocate of having a weather radio for about $30. You change the battery every six months and the battery only costs $2. The other thing is you can get an app for your phone that is good and it can show you where the shelters are located,” Little said.

Establishing a plan is also vital because so many severe storms arrive at night.

“Where we are geographically placed, a lot of severe weather arrives here in the evening after they have moved across the country and built up strength. Plus, we have a lot of hills and trees and it’s more difficult to spot tornadoes than in states like Oklahoma or Kansas,” she said.

Weather radios are connected to the warning system of the National Weather Service, which has centers in Huntsville and Birmingham.

“I’m a big advocate of keeping in touch with them and following their information,” Little said. “They keep getting better in their work with technology and experience. They were issuing warnings two days in advance of the storm in Lee County because of conditions they could read. They’re looking for us and do an excellent job.”

The Cullman County EMA website at cullmanema.org has an up-to-date listing of storm shelters throughout the county. Many of the facilities can safely hold hundreds of people each and in most communities. The agency also posts watches, warnings and other weather conditions to its Facebook page.

The National Weather Service site is weather.gov and contains information specific to the area as well as across the country, including watches, warnings, flood information and more.